Plus One at Covid Wedding

With normal circumstances, I would say this was extremely rude and I may decline the invite. But with Covid causing a cap of 25 people, I really don't think you should take her not inviting him personally. I'm sure this bride had to make some really hard decisions to fit her most important people into that 25. I don't think she didn't invite him out of spite, but simply because she had to be extremely selective.

Luckily, you said you were going to stay with your parents - maybe you and your boyfriend could make a mini trip out of it and spend time in your hometown and visiting your parents before/after the wedding.

I don't think anyone should be upset about this, honestly. While my wedding isn't until November, I've already had some difficult conversations with some people about how if the number allowed won't accommodate their plus ones, unfortunately they can't come. My best friend is a great example of this. She's been dating her boyfriend for 2 years now, will be 3 by the time we get married. If we can't have a number to accommodate him, he won't be invited and she knows that. We aren't the best of friends anyways and he's not really anyone special to me and she understands that, so she isn't upset or mad. Covid has destroyed a lot and many brides are really felling upset about some of the things they've had to cut back on. Maybe explain that to your boyfriend? For us, if we just had our bridal party and their plus ones, we'd already hit the 25 max. That's not including parents! So cuts would have to be made.

You decline this invite and do not send a gift. She cannot ask you to celebrate her relationship while blatantly disrespects yours

Under normal circumstances I would say she is being rude but 25 people is not a lot of people and i dont know how i personally woudl only be able to have that many because i have more family then that and they would be coming over anyone's boyfriend if it was that limited. Imagine who they have already had to not invite to keep it this low? Atleast you made the list and that should mean something to you with the guest list this small. I really would not make a big deal about this

I would respond No.

If it wasn't for Covid limitations it would be a different situation. But 25 people is an extremely limited number. That means they only get 12 (+ 1 extra) people each. So if you assume they each have 2 parents and 4 grandparents, that's already half of their guest list. Now add in step-parents, siblings, close aunts and uncles, cousins that they've grown up with, etc. Take a moment to ask yourself if you could narrow your own list down to 12. Yes your boyfriend is very important to YOU, but is it fair of you to ask your friend to put his attendance above someone they've known their whole life? Is your boyfriend hurt and offended because he's so close to your friend and it will mean so much to be there for that important moment in her life, or is he just upset to be left out?

Be honored you mean enough to them to make it onto their list.

25 is such a small number. I had friends go through this as well. I was invited and my fiance was not. It was not out of disrespect at all. It was because they really wanted me to be there.

25/2 is about 12 people each. Assuming the average of 2 parents, 2 siblings, and 2 grandparents, that is already half of their side.